Investing in Our Future: Understanding the Challenges and Benefits of Sustainable Farming
A recent report written by the Conservation Finance Network news team at Yale Center for Business and the Environment investigates whether sustainable farmland investments bring about social, economic and environmental returns. The findings of the study reveal current challenges and risks, successful models currently in place and suggested next steps to heighten returns from sustainable farmland investment. Read an expanded […]
Regional Land Access Project, Phase II
Our partner organization Land for Good has concluded the first year of its Land Access Project, Phase II (LAP2). This coalition of farmers from across 6 New England states has been working build power for farmers of all types in the region and make certain that farmland is passed to the next generation of farmers […]
New structure for OAO could mean more access for underserved farmers
In an announcement from the USDA this past week, the promise of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) has come closer to fruition. The OAO was created by the 2008 Farm Bill to give voice and opportunity to beginning, minority and underserved farmers. Most notably, OAO administers the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged […]
The Land, Issue 1 now available online
The Land, a magazine out of the UK based group The Land is Ours. TLIO campaigns for access to land, its resources and the decision making processes affecting them. In The Land, topics relating to land use policy, problems, and possible models for solutions are discussed in long form articles. Issue 1 looks at questions […]
Pennsylvania’s Farmers work with Federal Preservation Programs
With success that could be a model for the nation, Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program as reached a landmark agreement with the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The agreement, which will protect 651 acres across 7 individual farms, was the product of two years of careful negotiation. This cooperation between state and federal officials for the preservation […]
Most Exiting Farmers in New England May Have No Successor
A new study by American Farmland Trust and Land For Good underscores the challenge New England faces in the next two decades around farmland transition. Nearly one-thrid of New England’s farmers are age 65+ and 9 out of 10 do not have a young farmer to work alongside of them. The 1.4 million acres they […]
Access to Land Animated Short
The video Access to Land is a short animated exploration of the question, “Why should we privilege access to land and natural resources for small agricultural operation?” Access to Land looks at the value of small farms in comparison to larger farm operations. Fewer pesticides and a higher net efficiency per acre are typical of small […]
Call for Land Access Case Studies
The Access to Land network is seeking case studies of local authorities that have helped farmers and growers get onto the land. Do you know of any projects where local authorities have helped to make land available for food production? If so please get in touch and let us know.
Community Land Trust History: Interview with Bob Swann
An Interview with Bob Swann Conducted by Kirby White (1992) Originally published in Community Economics (Summer 1992): 3– 5. COMMUNITY ECONOMICS: Would you talk about how the community land trust model was developed, and how your own experience led to the development of the model. BOB SWANN: As a conscientious objector during world War II, I spent two years […]
Shifting African policy towards women and agroecology
The role of rural women and smallholder farmers in African society has been highly undervalued. This is so despite the fact that around 80% of Africa’s population is dependent on smallholder agriculture, it is the backbone of the rural economy, and women provide over two-thirds of the farm labour. There is clear evidence that agroecology […]